40-year-old man arrested with elephant tusks worth Ksh.5.4M remanded
40-year-old man arrested with elephant tusks worth Ksh.5.4M remanded
By George Juma for Citizen Digital; Published on December 15, 2020 12:18 (EAT)
A 40-year-old man who was arrested last week (December 12th) with elephant tusks weighing 54kg with a street value of Ksh.5.4M has been remanded until December 21, 2020.
The accused, Joseph Mugini, told a Migori court that he suffers from several health complications including high blood pressure hence requested for a bond which was however disallowed.
Migori Law Courts Magistrate Moses Obiero Oyoko, in his ruling, directed that the accused be remanded until next week when his bond application will be heard and determined.
The accused, who was charged with three counts, pleaded guilty to count one and two but denied count three.
Mugini was arrested on December 12, 2020 by a police officer who posed as a buyer of the elephant tusks at Gwitembe area in Kuria East sub county, Migori County.
Man arrested with ivory worth Sh5.4m after tip-off in Migori - The Standard
By Caleb Kingwara | December 13th 2020 at 10:51:29 GMT +0300
December 12th, 2020: A 40-year-old suspected smuggler of elephant tusks has been arrested and detained at Migori police cell after he was found with trophies worth street value of Sh5.4 million.
The suspect was arrested by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers drawn from Narok and Migori counties who were acted on a tip-off from a member of the public.
According to Migori County Police Commander Manase Musyoka, the trophies weighing 54 kilograms were packed in sacks.
”By the effort of members of the public together with gallant officers from Langata KWS and Migori Kilgoris KWS team managed to net the tusks,” said Musyoka.
The suspect is said to have packed the ivories inside a charcoal sack as he moved from Narok to Migori when the officers managed to intercept him
The police boss congratulated members of the public for giving the information that led to the arrest of the suspect.
“We want to urge members of the public to continue giving information to relevant authority dealing with illegal trades, the elephants are endangered and the future holds on what we do in terms of prevention—a collaboration between multi agency and members of the public are encouraged,” Musyoka added.
However, the county police boss declined to give details of the suspect saying that will jeopardise their investigation
“The investigation is ongoing and we still need more information and the suspect is going to help us get more information.”
Mr Musyoka noted that several reports have been made on illegal trafficking, adding that they have hope to confiscate more illegal good in cooperation with members of the public in Migori.
The suspect will be arraigned on Monday.
